Leukaemia risk lower in breastfed babies

Six months of breastfeeding may cut disease risk by 19%, says study

Babies who were breastfed for at least six months had a 19% lower risk of going on to develop leukaemia in childhood than those who were breastfed for a shorter period or not at all, research found.

Scientists said they made the findings after reviewing 18 different studies, while a separate analysis of 15 studies found that ever being breastfed compared with never being breastfed was associated with an 11% lower risk of childhood leukaemia.